The Browns are currently oscillating between Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson for the starting quarterback spot. This has raised questions about QB Dillon Gabriel’s role and future in Cleveland. 

The third-round draft pick of the Browns during the 2025 NFL Draft now finds himself alongside this year's sixth-round pick, Taylen Green. But Browns insider, Mary Kay Cabot, shared that the Browns aren’t done with Gabriel just yet.

“Gabriel has had a very nice spring and I wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up as the third QB on the Browns’ roster,” wrote Cabot, via cleveland.com, on Sunday. “Gabriel is an excellent processor and game manager and those traits were on display in OTAs and minicamp.”

Cabot added that there’s still some hope for Gabriel even though he hasn’t had the chance to work with the first-team offense during camp and show his progress since his rookie year. 

“The truth is, Gabriel could step in and start a game for the Browns if necessary and will probably fare much better with an overhauled offensive line and upgraded supportive cast,” revealed Cabot.

Gabriel’s turn as the Browns’ starter came in week 5 of the 2025 season against the Minnesota Vikings. He went 1-5 in the six games as a starter and registered 937 passing yards, seven touchdowns and a 59.5% completion rate. 

Cabot further revealed that as the Browns head to training camp in July, they would test rookie Taylen Green’s performance and ability to handle critical situations.  

Cabot concluded that if the Browns like Green, there’s a possibility of trading Gabriel around the cutdown date, i.e., August 30.

There are still many weeks left with training camp and preseason games. Browns’ general manager, Andrew Berry, and head coach, Todd Monken, who’s currently monitoring the QB1 competition, will likely decide on Gabriel’s future by the end of preseason. 

The Browns’ Stance on the QB1 Competition, per an NFL insider

The Browns’ QB1 competition has become a hot topic around the league. An NFL insider reported that the competition isn’t ending anytime soon and that it's a good move for Sanders, who’s getting enough opportunity to prove his worth.

“This is a true heated battle and it’s only going to heat up in training camp,” said ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. “I expected this to go into preseason games.”

Fowler added that initial reports suggested that veteran Watson was in the lead due to the experience he brings. However, Sanders recently “bridged the gap” and is making the Browns and Monken reconsider their QB1.

“Shedeur was decisive,” noted Fowler. “I was told that he’s got a presence about him that the new coaching staff noticed they might’ve underestimated a little bit.”

Fowler concluded by saying that Monken hasn’t made a decision yet and won’t until the preseason, when live game actions give him a closer look at Watson’s and Sanders’ performances. 

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Written by

Naomi Grace

Edited by

Arundhoti Palit